World, Writing, Wealth discussion
World & Current Events
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If you're not in the U.S., what's up in your part of the world?
Papaphilly wrote: "Out of curiosity, hs anyone watched much of the games in general?"So far, mostly - highlights. Today watched live part of women tennis semis. Hope to see more though
I watched the kayaking slalom - incredible judgment required to get the exact alignment required well before each gate.We have three rugby tests to play against Australia, but it appears the Australian ones may also be shifted here because of Australian lockdowns. To illustrate the scheduling problems that arise an Australian one will be transferred to Wellington BUT it will be on the same weekend as a beer festival being held here. Anyone care to guess what will happen? Near national sport meets insatiable thirst!
☘Misericordia☘ wrote: "Papaphilly wrote: "Everyone having the same opinion on any given subject can be group think and lemming like behavior. This group, not so much" The rules... are made by people for people. People ca..."Yes they can be mistaken. Interesting how one means by whom is mistaken.
Scout wrote: "Here's what happens when transgender females are allowed to compete with genetic females. https://fitnessvolt.com/tracey-lambre...A New Zealand weightlifter b..."
Sounds like sour grapes to me.
Papaphilly wrote: "Yes they can be mistaken. Interesting how one means by whom is mistaken." Well, having a look at how a bio-guy can be overnight becoming a bio-gal, for instance. Like, questioning oneself: can that really happen?
☘Misericordia☘ wrote: "Papaphilly wrote: "Yes they can be mistaken. Interesting how one means by whom is mistaken." Well, having a look at how a bio-guy can be overnight becoming a bio-gal, for instance. Like, questionin..."Well it is not over night. It is actually quite a long process. I suspect it is all questioning from the start.
Papaphilly wrote: "Well it is not over night. It is actually quite a long process. I suspect it is all questioning from the start." Yeah, and it should take some decades. And it doesn't nowadays. Anyway, what are you saying? That bio-men are weaker than bio-women or what? Have you seen any people?
☘Misericordia☘ wrote: "Papaphilly wrote: "Well it is not over night. It is actually quite a long process. I suspect it is all questioning from the start." Yeah, and it should take some decades. And it doesn't nowadays. ..."
I am saying what I have said from the start.
Papaphilly wrote: "I am saying what I have said from the start."Well, looking at some live people might help you be more realistic :)
☘Misericordia☘ wrote: "Papaphilly wrote: "I am saying what I have said from the start."Well, looking at some live people might help you be more realistic :)"How many Olympic gold medals have they brought home? Zero.
Kinds of shoots the unfair advantage in the foot. According the the rumor, they should run away with everything due to unfair advantages. And? A nothing burger.
The U.S. has one on the BMX team as a back up. She could not even make the starters. BTW, I have seen them and so what?
Read about the NZ female athlete who didn't get to go to the Games, has lost all records and associated sponsorship. An Olympic medal no but already significant disadvantage to the one left behind.If the trans BMX team member is in Tokyo that means a female athlete is at home in the USA, That means they may lose sponsorship, auto qualification for other events etc
After all the battles to improve female equality with men I fear this agenda will cause issues. It has also split women's rights campaigners politically. We have another thread on cancel culture - look at what happened to J K Rowling when she made comments about the issue. I've mentioned the Martina Navratalova documentary before. She too has faced criticism for daring to vent her opinion on the subject.
Philip wrote: "After all the battles to improve female equality with men I fear this agenda will cause issues...."And now for the smirk... After all the time I keep hearing how men and women are equal and there are no differences. God forbid someone suggest otherwise. Now all of the sudden, There is a new wrinkle. So what is it, they are the same or they are not? As for the rest, someone is always on the losing end. These women should try harder and train harder to meet the competition. Once again, the IOC set the rules and these athletes broke no regulations and met the bar.
As for Laurel Hubbard, I gather she set herself too high a starting position in her first event, did not complete, so was disqualified from continuing. That was an outcome nobody saw coming because usually the first try is one they are confident of achieving just to "get on the board". But if you want to win, I suppose you try for that little extra to give yurself more chances of success.
https://sports.yahoo.com/transgender-...This is interesting. It does address the testosterone levels and changing views.
Misogynistic comment 814 makes me sick and is too stupid to argue with. I'm out of this discussion.
Scout wrote: "Misogynistic comment 814 makes me sick and is too stupid to argue with. I'm out of this discussion."Scout, don't leave the conversation. It should get off this topic. The subject is supposed to be about what happens outside the US and somehow it went down the rabbit hole of laurel hubbard. Let's leave him/her and get back to "Outside the US".
Laurel Hubbard is outside the U.S. If I am correct she is from your neck of the woods Ian. The Olympics are outside the U.S. It falls squarely within the target range. Scout is mad because I was right all along. With nothing left, he calls names as happens when one loses an argument. This is certainly an uncomfortable conversation for many reasons.It was not a misogynistic comment either. Unlike many others, I accept Laurel Hubbard as a woman. BTW, I find it misogynistic that Scout cannot accept Laurel Hubbard as a woman. Even her competitors accepted both her as a competitor and that fact she is a woman and have done so publicly. She also had her detractors from competitors, so it was mixed bag as on would expect from a controversial subject. They also have noted the IOC sets the rules and no transgendered broke any rule. I wish we could say that about all of the competitors.
BTW, the New Zealand Olympic Committee selected her for the team. Another interesting fact, Trans have been allowed to compete since 2004 in the Olympics.
Papaphilly wrote: "Laurel Hubbard is outside the U.S. If I am correct she is from your neck of the woods Ian. The Olympics are outside the U.S. It falls squarely within the target range. Scout is mad because I was ri..."Papaphilly, everybody has expressed their views on Laurel hubbard, and yes she, if she is a she, comes from NZ and we all know who selected her and what the rules are. Nothing new to say here; let's move on
I repeat the point of my comment: "Let's leave him/her and get back to "Outside the US" ".
Temper, temper :)In my opinion, not the most successful precedent, yet not widespread to cause an immediate concern.
We can move on, as Ian suggests, after New Zealand muddied this water :)
Outside the USBelarus - athlete who was in Tokyo and also activist dead in Ukraine
Afghan - Taliban attacks
One year since explosion in Lebanon
Vaccine to be offered to all 16-17 year olds in UK
COVID cases and hospitalisations down
Iranian activity near Straits of Hormuz
The ship that blocked Suez arrived in UK to unload....
Nik wrote: "Temper, temper :)In my opinion, not the most successful precedent, yet not widespread to cause an immediate concern.
We can move on, as Ian suggests, after New Zealand muddied this water :)"
Me, muddying water?? Oh dear. And I thought I was friendly with the environment :-(
Taking up one of Philip's comments, I gather there is a ship that has been . . . in the Straits of Hormuz. The dots are because I have no idea what actually happened, apart from some accusing Iran of doing it (don't know what they did) and Iran denying it. (They would, but they don't say what they didn't do.) Talk aboput muddy waters. Anyone know what happened?
Ian wrote: "Anyone know what happened?..."A mystery at this stage. Based on UK surveillance and notification system, the ship at first was supposedly hijacked by 8-9 armed men that after a few hours have abandoned Asphalt Princess, which is now free to sail it seems. Few more ships reported concomitantly losing control and then regaining it?
Not clear what has actually happened, but I guess we'll soon know more...
Nik wrote: "Temper, temper :)In my opinion, not the most successful precedent, yet not widespread to cause an immediate concern.
We can move on, as Ian suggests, after New Zealand muddied this water :)"
Guess I must have tapped a nerve....
Philip wrote: "Iranian activity near Straits of Hormuz..."
Guess those garden gnomes will finally get to market...
Nik wrote: "Ian wrote: "Anyone know what happened?..."A mystery at this stage. Based on UK surveillance and notification system, the ship at first was supposedly hijacked by 8-9 armed men that after a few ho..."
My guess is we may not know much more that quickly. If whoever they were left quickly, it would seem there was some sort of effort at provoking something, but who are the provokers and what or who were they trying to provoke? Was it a "See what we can do?" (Iranian?) or was it a "See what a threat Iranians are?" or was it merely a hijacking by incompetents that found they had no plan and decided to quit while they were ahead? If it were one of the first two, we might not find out for some time because if nothing has happened so far, it might be thought of as too embarrassing to disclose.
Ian wrote: "Interesting. I wonder what happens next"I suspect iran denies and the vigilance keeps on. Good for the crew. If for some reason this is an Iranian act, then it almost seems comical. My bigger question is how desperate are they to try this stunt or is it a first shot across the bow?
Wouldn't be surprised if Iran upped the stakes
Perhaps, but what is their objective? How do they gain? It is easy to see ways they could lose.
Ian wrote: "Perhaps, but what is their objective? How do they gain? It is easy to see ways they could lose."It could be saber rattling to let all know how much trouble they is possible.
The Taliban sure do like their US equipment.I wonder what the black-market for Humvee spare parts will be like in a year or two?
REF: https://twitter.com/SGhar11/status/14...
Graeme wrote: "The Taliban sure do like their US equipment.I wonder what the black-market for Humvee spare parts will be like in a year or two?
REF: https://twitter.com/SGhar11/status/14..."
One might think that they would be concerned about the possibility of military obsessed with precision bombing hiding tracking devices in all of our stuff.
Now there's a thought. However, the US is out now and I'd think very unlikely to go back again.
Graeme wrote: "Now there's a thought. However, the US is out now and I'd think very unlikely to go back again."You know how people like fail videos? Generals like funny drone strike videos. I wouldn't put it past a one or two star to randomly pick one just to see the looks on their faces.
Given it's the weekend, I've taken time out of my busy relaxation schedule to introduce the very serious topic of Australia's defense strategy....REF: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTCqX...
Iran was already aligned to Russia and China, will the pivot East harden under the new president?REF: https://asiatimes.com/2021/08/raisi-e...
Graeme wrote: "Given it's the weekend, I've taken time out of my busy relaxation schedule to introduce the very serious topic of Australia's defense strategy....REF: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTCqX..."
Them that dine with the Devil had best use a very long spoon.
Indeed, J.The sketch has dated a bit.
Graeme wrote: "Iran was already aligned to Russia and China, will the pivot East harden under the new president?REF: https://asiatimes.com/2021/08/raisi-e..."
They fear Chinese, who aren't exactly pretty with the Muslims and partnership with Russia is mostly interests. Iran is pretty unique and solitary, anti- almost everything, keen to expand Islamic revolution in Shiite world. It currently controls or plays the prime fiddle in Iraq, Syria, Yemen & partially Lebanon. Not bad for a rogue regime. Sure, they can harden and it can go into major escalation..
Graeme wrote: "Given it's the weekend, I've taken time out of my busy relaxation schedule to introduce the very serious topic of Australia's defense strategy....REF: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTCqX..."
Nice one. Sometimes the enemy can be inside more than outside :)
Graeme wrote: "Given it's the weekend, I've taken time out of my busy relaxation schedule to introduce the very serious topic of Australia's defense strategy....REF: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTCqX..."
NZ has a similar problem, but worse. China is our biggest trading partner and there are probably no substitutes who would take these specific export products.
There is a secondary issue. Beside the specific issue of Taiwan, has China shown any interest in expanding its territory through the military? I would suggest the "artificial islands" in the South China Sea are simply economic expansions, and given that so many in the West use China to do their manufacturing, exactly what is the perceived problem? Trump's "sanctions" or whatever you want to call them were a response to the balance of trade and cash problems that arose through getting China to do its manufacturing.
Unlike the previous USSR, there is no evidence I can see that China wants to export its political system. If the economic consequences of trading with China are problematic, then why trade? If you are better off doing it, then why not?
So what is the problem?
Ian wrote: "Graeme wrote: "Given it's the weekend, I've taken time out of my busy relaxation schedule to introduce the very serious topic of Australia's defense strategy....REF: https://www.youtube.com/watch..."
I would disagree on South China Sea which clearly is a military expansion and patrolled/manned accordingly. This may be for economic expansion but allows military operations. Navies and Air Forces need operating bases. That's what they have built. Outcome control of fishing and potential sea lanes for other trade. UK and US have carriers in the area - expect some TV pictures.
On the broader point of political expansion - they are changing Hong Kong, unclear on Macau and continue to threaten Taiwan, all of which they have clear interests in. Tibet was not Chinese but is now.
Other borders and expansion remain more difficult. North Korea, Myanmar, Vietnam, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Afghanistan, all share borders as well as former Soviet Republics, Russia and Mongolia.
Economic influence is building in Africa and Middle East because they lend money or build infrastructure projects - also in Europe
The problem becomes the western view of democracy - we may complain in these forums about lack of free speech, voting and political corruption but were not Tibetans, Uyghur or religions like Falun Gong let alone Christianity. Nor are we in Hong Kong watching our civil liberties disappear.
Still we want trade so best to turn a blind eye. A few publicised sanctions (Quietly removed or unenforced). A few spats arresting Chinese executives and the world continues.
Great post, Philip. You’re right about the West turning a blind eye for trade reasons too. Perhaps we need to re-evaluate our reliance on cheap consumer goods and acknowledge that the post-WWII economic golden age is drawing to a close?
With many of today’s UK papers leading on fears over climate change, and bearing in mind Ian’s changing times post on the covid thread, the world is certainly changing.
However, I really think we need to consider our intrinsic values as we seek to meet these challenges.
I can remember when I had no answer to your arguments championing freedom of speech on the religion thread. I was also wrong on the covid thread to say that the West’s liberty and democracy might be viewed as a weakness when competing with China. Nik was right to correct me on this point.
So, what defines us? Do we still stand for liberty and democracy or are we going to continue to strangle our citizens in the name of ‘safety’ as we compete with China in a race to the bottom?
With many of today’s UK papers leading on fears over climate change, and bearing in mind Ian’s changing times post on the covid thread, the world is certainly changing.
However, I really think we need to consider our intrinsic values as we seek to meet these challenges.
I can remember when I had no answer to your arguments championing freedom of speech on the religion thread. I was also wrong on the covid thread to say that the West’s liberty and democracy might be viewed as a weakness when competing with China. Nik was right to correct me on this point.
So, what defines us? Do we still stand for liberty and democracy or are we going to continue to strangle our citizens in the name of ‘safety’ as we compete with China in a race to the bottom?
Beau wrote: "Great post, Philip. You’re right about the West turning a blind eye for trade reasons too. Perhaps we need to re-evaluate our reliance on cheap consumer goods and acknowledge that the post-WWII eco..."Thanks Beau
There is a fine balance to be set with public safety, public liberty and what we call democracy. Remember a billion Chinese think they have a vote.
We have disagreed about approaches to Public Safety regarding COVID just as the UK disagrees with USA over gun laws for gun safety or the acceptability of certain processing for chicken.
We all claim to want liberty but we do not want to buy unsafe products or be polluted by unregulated manufacturers. Its a balancing act that wobbles like a sea-saw.
Over-regulate and you stifle innovation and limit freedom. Under regulate and people die or have no civil liberties. Different countries have different approaches to similar issues.
The average Chinese citizen is much better off than their parents were. Just as the average US/UK and elsewhere citizen is better off - in terms of health, life expectancy, worldly goods even when we state we are not.
In the UK, we try to pride ourselves on tolerance and a well mannered, behaved population (Take a queue at a bust stop or a bar) but we still have many problems. This comes at a cost of reduced liberties as Americans would see it but massively less crime, as just one example. The Chinese and many Muslim societies would view UK's crime rate as appalling but then again what freedom do they have?
As I said a difficult balancing act regardless of political party.
I guess a sentiment "Chinese/______/________ are awful, but they are cheap" entails a lot of hypocrisy in it. Not sure globalization is such a great idea with current mentality/cultural gaps. Total enmity is not the answer either..
Philip, after an extensive post on the covid thread, I am going to limit my response to your last post in one word...
agreed :)
agreed :)
Nik wrote: "I guess a sentiment "Chinese/______/________ are awful, but they are cheap" entails a lot of hypocrisy in it. Not sure globalization is such a great idea with current mentality/cultural gaps. Total..."You may have noticed that I constantly lodge my complaints against the CCP (Chinese Communist Party). I view the Chinese people to be victims of the CCP, the same as I view the Russian people to have been victims of Stalin. In this way, I see China as a competitor and potentially valued trade partner. While the CCP is a threat to the peace of nations.
World, Writing, Wealth
Books mentioned in this topic
1984 (other topics)Common Sense (other topics)
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (other topics)
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (other topics)
Lolita (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Mel Brooks (other topics)Victor Davis Hanson (other topics)
Peter Zeihan (other topics)
Bobby Fischer (other topics)
Jordan B. Peterson (other topics)
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No, but there was this interview out of Britain...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFBxk...